Intro
In this episode of “The History of Rome” podcast, titled “328- Devolutionary Redesign,” the host explores the fascinating story behind the album art of the band Devo and the unexpected success of the Langley School Music Project. From the unconventional use of golfer Chichi Rodriguez’s image to the haunting recordings of elementary school students, this episode delves into the creative and unpredictable world of music history.
Main Takeaways
Devo’s Album Art and Golfer Chichi Rodriguez
- Record album art was crucial to music before digital downloads.
- Album art tried to encapsulate the essence of a band and became part of fans’ identities.
- Devo’s philosophy was that the human race is in a state of de-evolution.
- Devo members were visual artists before they wrote songs.
- Devo’s album art for their famous album came from a clear plastic pouch of golf balls with an illustration of golfer Chichi Rodriguez.
- Chichi Rodriguez was an unconventional golfer who stood out with his loud pants, bright shirts, and unique hat.
- The use of Chichi’s image on Devo’s self-produced single, “Be Stiff,” was a commentary on commercialism and selling Americana.
- Devo’s first major label album, “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!,” featured the same image of Chichi on the cover as their self-produced single.
- The process of creating the album art involved going from department to department at Warner Brothers HQ and eventually meeting with the head of the art department, Rick Serini.
- Devo’s album art was intentionally absurd and didn’t follow the rules of traditional album covers.
The Unpredictable Success of Devo and Chi Chi Rodriguez
- The image of a flamboyant golfer, Chi Chi Rodriguez, was chosen as the mascot for Devo, despite not making logical sense.
- The vice president of Business Affairs for Warner Brothers, David Burman, objected to the use of Chi Chi Rodriguez’s likeness without permission.
- Devo was initially crestfallen but decided to write a letter to Chi Chi Rodriguez asking for permission to use his likeness.
- Devo came up with a plan B for their album art, involving an artist rendering of the last four presidents combined.
- Chi Chi’s face was mutated to create the album cover, using a Mr. Potato Head-like process.
- Chi Chi agreed to the use of the image for 50 records to give to his friends and family.
- Devo sent Chi Chi a couple of thousand dollars and the record, but never heard back from him.
- Chi Chi listened to the record once and did not like it, preferring music that brings you down.
- Chi Chi’s purposeful outlandishness on stage is similar to Devo’s approach to giving people a show.
- The use of Chi Chi’s image on Devo’s album cover could have been the tipping stone that changed everything for Devo’s success.
- Devo’s success could not have been predicted by anyone.
The Langley School Music Project
- The Langley School Music Project was a haunting and uplifting outsider masterpiece recorded by a music teacher named Hans Finger in the 1970s with his elementary school students.
- Music teacher Hans Finger’s approach was to focus on falling in love with making music.
- Emotion in the music captures the melancholy of youth.
- Unconventional approach: children arranged by height, not necessarily musically talented.
- The rediscovered recordings became an underground hit in New York and led to an album called “Innocence and Despair.”
- The artist felt vindicated by the success of the recordings and it gave them a better mood.
- The Resound podcast produced a story about the artist in 2010.
- “99% Invisible” was produced by Sean Cole, Fitzgerald, and Katie Mingle.
- The show can be found on various social media platforms and their website, 99PI.org.
Summary
The Unconventional Album Art of Devo
Devo, a band known for their philosophy of de-evolution, took a unique approach to album art. Their famous album cover featured an image of golfer Chichi Rodriguez, chosen for its absurdity and commentary on commercialism. Despite objections from Warner Brothers, Devo sought permission from Chichi Rodriguez himself. When Chi Chi agreed, the image was mutated to create a distinctive album cover that defied traditional rules. This unconventional album art became a symbol of Devo’s unique style and may have contributed to their success.
The Unexpected Success of Devo and Chi Chi Rodriguez
Devo’s use of Chi Chi Rodriguez’s image on their album cover was a gamble that paid off. The outlandishness of Chi Chi’s on-stage persona resonated with Devo’s approach to giving people a show. While Devo’s success could not have been predicted, the use of Chi Chi’s image could have been the tipping stone that changed everything. However, Chi Chi’s personal taste in music did not align with Devo’s sound, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the music industry.
The Haunting Recordings of the Langley School Music Project
The Langley School Music Project, recorded by music teacher Hans Finger with his elementary school students, captured the melancholy of youth through unconventional arrangements and emotional performances. Rediscovered years later, the recordings became an underground hit and led to the album “Innocence and Despair.” The success of the project vindicated the artist and showcased the power of unconventional music-making.
Conclusion
From the unconventional album art of Devo to the haunting recordings of the Langley School Music Project, this episode explores the unpredictable and creative world of music history. It highlights the impact of visual art on music, the role of unexpected collaborations, and the enduring power of unique artistic expressions. Whether it’s defying traditional album cover rules or capturing the melancholy of youth, these stories remind us of the diverse and ever-evolving nature of music.
